Nathan Tinkler lives it up as the empire struggles

PIT electrician-cum-mining magnate, horserace lover and rugby league fan Nathan Tinkler has been living in a high-class area of Singapore as questions swirl about his financial empire.

Mr Tinkler moved to Singapore earlier this year and has declined all requests for media interviews.

In his wake, his companies have left a trail of disgruntled suppliers and businesses and mounting speculation that his companies are off-loading assets across the country to repay substantial debts.

The Courier-Mail has tracked Mr Tinkler and his family to an address near Singapore Botanic Gardens, described by a local real estate agent as "a high-class bungalow area".

The agent said Mr Tinkler was known locally as a rich man.

Mr Tinkler has used the address in company documents and a Singapore journalist, working with The Courier-Mail, said she spoke to his wife last week at the home.

Hunter Valley-born Mr Tinkler, 36, burst on to the corporate scene after the former electrician spent $15 million for a coal deposit at Middlemount in Queensland, selling that in 2007 to Macarthur Coal for about $275 million in cash and shares. Then he put Macarthur into play by selling his stake at the top of the market.

But recently, his financial empire has faced corporate strife with a proposed takeover deal for Whitehaven Coal collapsing, Queensland coal explorer Blackwood saying it would take legal action to chase $28.4 million allegedly owed from a promised equity placement and developer Mirvac locked in a court dispute over a $17 million property deal.

A spokesman for Mr Tinkler declined to comment on his Singapore lifestyle, among other issues. These included talk of the sale of his three-engine Dassault Falcon 900C, adorned with an Australian flag on its tail.

For all the appearances of Mr Tinkler being under financial pressure, there are indications that is not the case.

One indication is a property in Pullenvale on Brisbane's outskirts with an old empty house, which his Oceltip Investments No.2 bought for $2 million in 2008.

The property is for sale by Brisbane Real Estate for that same price and has been since 2010. Typically, in a fire sale, the seller quickly lowers the price to gain a buyer.

But other operations are seemingly winding down. It's been widely canvassed that Mr Tinkler is looking to sell down his racehorse interest.

One operation is seemingly running late. In Newcastle, there is a three-building development planned called Honeysuckle Central, once heralded as a "vibrant new addition" to the CBD.

The proponents include Mr Tinkler's Buildev Group. But three local sources said construction appeared to have stopped.

The Courier-Mail in August reported that Mr Tinkler had sought an extension of the settlement date to buy 443 Queen St for $38 million.

Also in Queensland, Buildev is tangled in a court dispute. Local packaging company Mark Colin Packaging (Qld) Pty Ltd and associated group Promark Packaging Pty Ltd recently filed action in the Brisbane Supreme Court to try and recover $189,900 allegedly owing from Buildev Group, among other parties, over a botched warehouse development.

Mr Tinkler bought into Buildev in 2008 and a spokesman said the Queensland dispute had absolutely nothing to do with the entrepreneur.

"This happened back in 2006 before Tinkler took over Buildev," the spokesman said.

Lobbyists SAS Group have also been seeking repayment of $60,000 from one of Mr Tinkler's companies.